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I Know Something Good About You
Wouldn’t this old world be better
If the folks we meet would say -
“I know something good about you!”
And treat us just that way?
Wouldn’t it be fine and dandy
If each handclasp, fond and true,
Carried with it this assurance -
“I know something good about you!”
Wouldn’t life be lots more happy
If the good that’s in us all
Were the only thing about us
That folks bothered to recall?
Wouldn’t life be lots more happy
If we praised the good we see?
For there’s such a lot of goodness
In the worst of you and me!
Wouldn’t it be nice to practice
That fine way of thinking, too?
You know something good about me,
I know something good about you?
By Louis C. Shimon (1935)
Louis C. Shimon was born in Russia in 1901, and moved with his family to Watertown, Wisconsin, United States of America in 1903. He became a humorist and wrote the column, “Laugh a Little,” which appeared in newspapers and other publications. His poem, “I Know Something Good About You,” was included in Hazel Felleman’s book, “The Best Loved Poems of the American People” (1936). Louis C. Shimon passed on at 44 years of age on 27 June 1946 at his home in Watertown, Wisconsin, United States of America.
Wouldn’t this old world be better
If the folks we meet would say -
“I know something good about you!”
And treat us just that way?
Wouldn’t it be fine and dandy
If each handclasp, fond and true,
Carried with it this assurance -
“I know something good about you!”
Wouldn’t life be lots more happy
If the good that’s in us all
Were the only thing about us
That folks bothered to recall?
Wouldn’t life be lots more happy
If we praised the good we see?
For there’s such a lot of goodness
In the worst of you and me!
Wouldn’t it be nice to practice
That fine way of thinking, too?
You know something good about me,
I know something good about you?
By Louis C. Shimon (1935)
Louis C. Shimon was born in Russia in 1901, and moved with his family to Watertown, Wisconsin, United States of America in 1903. He became a humorist and wrote the column, “Laugh a Little,” which appeared in newspapers and other publications. His poem, “I Know Something Good About You,” was included in Hazel Felleman’s book, “The Best Loved Poems of the American People” (1936). Louis C. Shimon passed on at 44 years of age on 27 June 1946 at his home in Watertown, Wisconsin, United States of America.
7 Comments
My boi
I learned this poem many years ago and still recite it on many occasions. I'm happy to have read about it's author.
When my Father Carmine S. Feltz passed away in 2002, I was given the honor of looking through his journals where he wrote down his poems. Two stanzas of this poem were found written down, but he did not sign his name under them. I suspect that he recorded them from memory, since the words were slightly altered. However, the sentiment was so my Father, a man who always wanted to believe the best of all those he met. I have shared those two stanzas with many, always saying that I did not know if he was the author, but he was definitely a follower of this philosophy. I finally decided to look it up to see if someone else wrote this, and I am delighted to read the entire poem and the story of Louis C. Shimon.
I found this poem today in that book--"best loved poems of the American people" I loved it!
im doing this poem for school!
SAMMMMEEEE
This was one of my grandfather's favorite poems. He often recited it from memory in his senior years. He had a wonderful baritone voice and a very warm and friendly way of speaking. His name was George Duffy of Watertown, NY.
